Many have heard or read the recent story of the Wyland mural in Dallas, Texas being painted over to promote the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This is a sad statement on the times in which we live.
Erasing the past under the guise of short-term gratification has become all too familiar, even occurring beyond the arts. It is, however, about the arts I would like to share my thoughts.
As a practicing artist and long-time art educator, I hold the subject of fine art and the importance of visual arts education near and dear to my heart. Having painted hundreds of murals over a span of nearly four decades, I can assure you it takes much more than just lots of paint to make murals happen. It takes a deeply rooted passion, experience, a specific skillset and an often very personal touch. That is not to say the needs and wants of a client will not influence the design concepts, but the painting itself – putting paint to the surface, color choices and even subject placement – all take something found deep within the artist. This is what makes public art so special and what brings vibrance and emotion into the mix.
Art loving communities like Brickell in Miami embrace this idea, and their neighborhoods seem more alive as a result. I am proud to see art displayed so readily in the Florida Keys, where public art is respected and not simply discarded on a whim. We learned this with the restoration and preservation of Wyland’s walls here in the Keys in locales known for embracing art in public places – most recently with Whaling Wall #87 on what is now Surf Style in Marathon.
To me, seeing the mural in Dallas erased is heartbreaking given the passion and emotions that culminated in the installation of this grand masterpiece in 1999. The fact that Wyland’s mission from the start was to raise conservation awareness, and that he did this as a gift to a community, only adds to the insulting nature of its removal. Knowing this is being done for short-term gain makes it that much more ludicrous.
In just a couple months, I will head to Italy with my children, where we will visit the Sistine Chapel and look upon the works of Michelangelo, Rafael, Da Vinci and many others, and we will enjoy murals and frescoes done centuries ago. I am sure pleased to know that in days of old, they did not erase commissioned art like some are doing today. If they did, we would have so little to reflect upon, and the world would be rather dull as a result.
As to my friend and fellow artist Wyland, he and I spoke about the absurd and possibly criminal decision made in Dallas. He, always looking at the bright side, said he hopes this can turn into a learning experience for us all. He said: “Maybe it will raise awareness about the importance of preservation of public art moving forward.”
I sure hope it does, and I hope when you look at public art in the future, you will see it as more than just a cool piece of artwork, but as a precious gift and something worth saving.
Sincerely,
Shannon Paul Wiley
